CHAI>. XIL] THE INTRODUCTION OF IRON INTO EUROPE. 423 



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CHAPTER XIL 



THE PREHISTORIC IRON AGE NORTH OF THE ALPS. 



Definition of the Iron Age. The Introduction of Iron into Europe. The 

 Prehistoric Iron Age in Britain. Arms and Equipage. Personal 

 Ornaments. Burial Customs. The Late Celtic Art. The Etruskan 

 Influence on the Art. The Influence of Ancient Greece. Coins and 

 Commerce. The Prehistoric Iron Age on the Continent north of the 

 Alps. The Prehistoric Iron Age in Scandinavia. Survival of the 

 Late Celtic Art into the Historic Period in Britain. 



Definition of the Iron Age. 



WE have now arrived at the stage of the inquiry into 

 the condition of early man in Britain, which is marked 

 by the introduction of iron, the appearance of new arts, 

 and of a coinage. The use of iron characterises the 

 latest phase of the Prehistoric, as well as the whole of 

 the Historic period. The Prehistoric Iron age in Britain 

 is the equivalent of the Neo-Celtic, or the late Celtic of 

 Mr. Franks, of the first Iron age in France and Ger- 

 many, and of the late Bronze age in Scandinavia. 



The Introduction of Iron into Europe. 



The application of iron to the purposes of daily life 

 marks an important era in the civilisation of Europe. 

 Iron appears in the Heroic age of Greece as a rare 



